Delightful Ponyo an Animated Charmer
After drifting away from her once-human father Fujimoto (voiced by Liam Neeson) precocious goldfish Ponyo (voiced by Noah Cyrus) inadvertently stumbles upon Sosuke (voiced by Frankie Jonas), a caring five-year-old boy living with his mother Lisa (voiced by Tina Fey) in their seaside home while his ship captain father Koichi (voiced by Matt Damon) is away at work. After her magic inadvertently heals a cut on the child’s finger, Ponyo discovers an incredible desire to be human, her goddess mother the Gran Mamare (voiced by Cate Blanchett) forced to test Sosuke’s human resolve in order to grant her daughter’s wish.
Ponyo and Sosuke share a moment in Walt Disney Pictures' Ponyo
The great Hayao Miyazaki’s (Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service) latest effort the Disney-released Ponyo is a sweetly intoxicating parable of innocence and responsibility suitable for the entire family. While not quite reaching the classic heights of My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke or the Oscar-winning Spirited Away, this animated winner is nonetheless an idyllic joy. It is pleasing proof that G-rated entertainment can capture the imaginations of young and old alike, the lovely odor oozing off of it difficult to resist.
Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid (itself the basis for Disney’s own hand-drawn 1989 classic), Miyazaki’s script is cemented in a child-like world view that youngsters of all ages can relate to. It also touches upon themes of aging, regret and environmental responsibility instantly recognizable to older viewers, the two sides of the film working together in ways that are constantly unusual and surprising.
At the same time, the points it ends up making aren’t exactly new or fresh, the film’s insights none that a person is going to find revolutionary. I also got a tad annoyed at Ponyo herself, her constantly excited euphoria increasingly grating on the ears as the plot progressed.
Not that kids are probably going to care about either of those facts. They’re going to see two fellow children they can immediately relate to, their struggles maybe surrounded by magic but their personas as natural and as genuine as their very own. Ponyo and Sosuke want friendship, they want love and most of all they want to share those and the other great things in life with those around them. They are innocents of the purest form, watching them succeed just the kind of life-lesson their non-animated peers can find inspiration in.
Adults will take comfort in the fact there is nothing here that they can worry about their children being offended by. More than that, however, they can revel in the richly detailed watercolors of Miyazaki’s magnificent animation and the beautifully elegant layers of the all-star cast’s effortless vocal work. The film seems to fly right by, and before they know it parents will undoubtedly come out of the theater sporting smiles every bit as gigantic as their kids.
For those needing proof that hand-drawn animation is still as alive and as viable as ever this is the rapturous and elegant proof. A massive hit across the rest of the world, Miyazaki continues to craft beautiful entertainment products that cross the age, gender and racial spectrum with effervescent ease. It is a wonderful work, Ponyo a delightful charmer I totally adored.
Film Rating: êêê (out of 4)
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